You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
In my work as a full-time voiceover talent, I record in many different genres: eLearning, explainer videos, commercials and…yes…Telephony.
To many voiceover talent, it’s not even on their radar or, honestly, it’s looked down upon as not worth their time.
For those not in my industry many know this as “voicemail jail.” Which is really sad.
What many don’t realize is how important it is for companies to have a professional sounding phone system.
It truly is often the first impression that people get of a company.
(How many rants have we all heard about the awful system and sound someone had to deal with when they called a certain company)
I just got off a session for a major luxury brand. There were two people on the line from the agency and client side, plus the engineer.
(For my VO friends: Yes, this was a Union booking via one of my agents, Desanti Talents recorded via ISDN)
We spent 40 minutes recording 3 paragraphs for their phone system.
These people get it. They understand that the people who call their company expect a certain sound and a certain quality. It’s also a sign of respect for the customer. Their customers don’t want to hear someone who’s just “phoning it in” (pun intended!)
I was thrilled to be hired to represent them.
So, the next time you hear a bad recording, what will you think of the company? Will you feel respected?
If, on the other hand, you hear a good recording, you’ll know that the company cares about their image, and you their customer.
I think if telephony work is rejected by voiceover talent, it is because the pay rates have generally dropped so much in recent years, a lot of it being handled through third parties who specialise in this field. I still do it though if the price is right!